Today at Kauai Aadheenam

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Here we are in Sirkali, the birth place of Saint Tirujnanaambandar! This is the only photo we could take in the temple. The bamboo is an unusual variety for us to see. Lord Siva in the main sanctum in known as Thoniappar. This temple actually has two other shrines above main sanctum--second and third floor--very unusual.

The Kanchi Mutt has preserved the Saint’s home and turned it into a padasala for young priest’s to train. The walls of the school show Saint Sambandar’s whole life up to his mahasamadhi where he and all the guest’s at his wedding were absorbed in the clear white light.

A closer look shows an unusual tight knots on the trunk. Each temple has tree or plant associated with it. They known as Stala Vriksha. For this temple it is Bamboo.

Some photos of thresholds were taken at Sirkali’s Raja Gopuram entrance.

Another design--simple and elegant.

Day 3 takes us to Swamimalai for a meeting and inspection of Iraivan’s Avudaiyar.

The Avudaiyar will weigh about 11,000 lbs upon completion.

Kubera Sthapati is the metal work sthapati that works under very close supervision of Selvanathan Sthapati.

From Our Gurus' Teachings

Unless kundalini is active, the deepest meditative states are not available to us. But to activate kundalini, Gurudeva tells us we must invoke the grace of Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan. "Yoga is internalized worship which leads to union with God." Experience the inside of you in a profound way. This requires dispassion. The popular term "kriya yoga" usual refers to a form of pranayama, but the original kriya yoga is defined by Sage Patanajli as the practice of three of the niyamas: tapas, svadhyaya and Isvarapranidhana. To achieve samadhi we practice yoga, steady restraint of mental activities, austerity, meditation, detachment, self study and worship of God. Communion with the Ishta Devata, the chosen God is a key and also Gurudeva tells us: the Deity chooses you.